Electric cut-out switch.



PATENTED MAY 23, 1905.

J. PRBGHETTE.

ELECTRIC GUT-OUT SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED APB..11. 1904.

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l Mac/QM Vro UNITED STATES Patented May 23, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH FREOHETTE, OF PAIYTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR OE ONE- THIRD TO THOMAS F. HUGHES, OF PAIVTUOKE", RHODE ISLAND.

ELECTRIC CUT-OUT SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 790,789, dated May 23, 1905.

Application filed April 1], 1904y Serial No. 202,631.

Be it known that I, JOSEPH FRECHETTE, a citizen of the United States, residing atthe city of Pawtucket, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Out- Out Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for switching on or ofi" the current in the wires of electric-lighting lamps.

In the use of electric cut-outswitches as commonly constructed, which are operated by a lever to make or close the current, it frequently happens that in swinging the said lever from one conducting-plate to another the powerful electric charge burns out some ofthe parts of the switch.

The object of my invention is to provide means which can be operated to instantly'close ofI the current and without destroying the switch and without any dangerous risk by electrical shock to the lineman. 1

My invention consists, essentially, of the combination, with the wires of a main electric circuit and the wires of an electric-lighting circuit provided with proper metallic connections with the first-named circuit, of two fiat springs normally constituting parts of said connection between the two circuits, and a roller which is a non-conductor of electricity and is provided with a conducting-plate adapted to move by the rotation of said roller into contact with said fiat springs and to force them temporarily out of a connection with the lighting-circuit, but to release said springs at a proper time and so to allow them by their own resilience to return into position to complet-e the metallic connection between said two circuits, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Figure l represents a front elevation of my improved electric cut-out switch. Fig. 2 is a side view, partly in section and partly in elevation, taken on line X X of Fig. l, showing the normal position of parts when the full charge of lighting-current is on. Eig. 3 is a similar view, taken on line Y Y of Eig. l,

showing the normal position of parts when a partial charge of the lighting-current is on and also showing the switch proper in dotted position, as -prior to making the said partial charge of current. Eig. 4 is a rear elevation of the cut-out switch on a smaller scale, showing the wire connections for the negative and positive pole binding posts. Fig. 5 is a view showing a metal box secured to an electric pole, and said box being partly in section to show my improved cut-out switch mounted therein.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in the several views of the drawings.

A designates a base having two integral ears b, provided each with a circular opening or journal-bearing formed opposite of each other to receive metallic pintles c c. A solid roller B extends horizontally between the ears of the base member A, and een* trally of each end of said roller is rigidly secured by suitable means the inner portions of the pintles c c.

The roller B,\vhich forms the switch proper, has an integral rim or radial cam Z extending longitudinally therewith and terminating near to either end thereof, and on the face of this rim is mounted a conducting-plate fl', which is secured in place by screws Jgd, that enter metallic plugs made fast in the said rim or radial cam, as at J3, in Fig. 3.

The base member A and roller member B are each made of non-electric conductor material, such as porcelain.

O O are two iiat stiif springs extending vertically of the roller B and having one of their ends rigidly secured to hubs c e, which form pole-binding posts that are secured to the base-plate A, and said springs have their opposite ends terminating close to the peripheral surface of the said roller. Each hub of a binding-post e has an integral pole-binding post, as c c', to receive the ends of the wires ff of the main electric circuit.

Two laterally-separated conducting-pieces g f/ are secured by screws /L z. to the base A, and each of the main springs O O has an integral tongue z' to contact between two outwardly-bent extensions g g of said conducting-pieces. Each conducting-piece g has an integral pole-binding post, as g2 g2, to receive the ends of the wires jj' of the lighting-circuit.

Small fiat springs 7c Z2 have one of their ends secured to pole-binding posts Z Z, and said springs, which are of lesser tension than that of the main springs C C, are arranged to have their free portion contact upon the surfaces of the conducting-pieces g g.

Metallic plugs are made fast in the roller B, as Aat m in Fig. 2, and said plugs are provided with screw threaded openings to receive screws fn n, having convex circular heads arranged to contact upon the surfaces of the springs k 71:.

The base A is grooved from its rear surface to receive wires 0 0, whose ends are connected with the binding-posts e e of the main circuit ff and binding-posts Z Z of the springs respectively, and forming a positive and negative pole, in the manner shown in Fig. 4.

This cut-out switch, as described, is mounted in a metal box p, which is secured to a streetpole s, and said box is provided with slotted openings t, formed'opposite of each other to freely receive the pintles c c of the roller B, and said cut-out switch is firmly secured in place by screws au, which pass through openings a u', formed in its base A and enter threaded openings in the rear wall of the box, in the manner shown in Fig. 5. The box p has the usual perforated porcelain bushings a e, mounted in its sides and bottom to receive the wires ff of the main circuit and wires jj of the lighting-circuit, respectively, and said box is also provided with a downwardly-swinging hinged cover w, which is kept closed by means of a snap-spring w, attached to the bottom of the box. When the roller is free of contact with the main springs C C, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, its screws or cams n n hold the small springs in contact with the conducting-pieces g g, and in this position of parts the full charge of electric current passes freely through the main wire f, through the polebinding posts e Z, thence through the wire j of the lighting-circuit to the other pole-binding posts e Z, and thence through the opposite main wiref. Now in casealamp in thelighting-circuit needs repair the lineman grasps the rod c', which acts as a handle, that is secured to one of the pintles of the roller B, so as to turn said roller in the arrow direction to nearly a revolution, and which movement gradually lifts the main springs C C from their engagement with the conducting-pieces g g and onto the conducting-plate CZ of the roller, and in this position of parts the small springs Zr /c are free of contact with the conducting-pieces g g, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, and thus break the lighting-circuitjj. After the lamp has been repaired the lineman turns the roller B the remainder of its revolution, and this final movement causes the screws` or cams n n to force down the small springs Za in contact with the conducting-pieces g g prior to the releasing of the main springs, so that a partial charge of electric current passes around the lighting-circuit, after which the main springs C C are released from the conducting-plate Z of the roller to engage with the conducting-pieces g g, whereupon the full charge of current will pass through the lighting-circuit. The rotation of the roller B in the direction of the arrow in Fig. Qcauses the radial cam CZ thereof to gradually crowd outwardly the free end of each ofthe springs C. and thereby to break the electric circuit which previously was formed by the contact of the tongue z' with the extensions g' g. As soon as the free ends of the springs under the increasing tension slip off the edge of the conducting-plate of the roller they instantaneously by their own resilience return to their former normal contact with the central conducting-pieces as the roller is turned by the handle. Thus the cam CZ, with the rotatable roller B, constitutes slow-acting means for simultaneously breaking connection with said circuit and increasing the tension of the springs 4C, and the sharp outer corner of the conducting-plate CZ constitutes quick-releasing means to allow said springs C to slip therefrom and instantly to close said first-named circuit again.

When the parts are in the position illustrated in Fig. 2, the lighting-circuit is connected with the main circuit by the screws or cams n n, which press the springs Z0 into contact with the conducting-pieces g g; but when the parts are in the position illustrated in Fig. 3 in dotted lines the screws or cams n a are withdrawn from the springs Zr Zc,which springs by their resilience when so released from said pressure automatically separate from the conducting-pieces g g and in the position shown in Fig. 3 the conducting-plate rZ' becomes the connection between the springs() C,thus completing the electric circuit, when the lightingwires j' j are disconnected from the main wires ff.

I claim as a novel and useful invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. In an'electric cut-outswitch, the combination of the wires of a main electric circuit; the wires of asecondary electric circuit; means for connecting said two circuits comprising' as a part thereof a spring properly supported at one end and normally closing with its opposite free end the electric connection; and means adapted to move said free end of the spring out of said circuit connection and to gradually increase the tension thereof during such movement and at the end of said movement to release said spring instantaneously to resume by its own resilience its said normal position, substantially as described.

2. In an electric cut-out switch, a metallic circuit, a spring forming part of and normally closed in said circuit, and means for elevating IOO IIO

said spring to break the circuit, said means acting to slowly elevate the spring and gradually increase the tension thereof in breaking the circuit and to pass from beneath the spring and permit the latter tol instantaneously resume its normal positionby its own resiliency.

3. In an electric cut-out switch, the combination of a base, two hubs secured to said base near its bottom; each of which hubs has a for- \ardly-extending binding-post and a rearwardly-extcnding binding-post; two bindingposts secured to the base near its top; two conducting-pieces secured to said base near its center, cach having an integral rearwardlyextending binding-post and also two forwardly-extending projections; two flat springs whose lower ends are fastened on said hubs respectively, each having a rearwardly-extending' tongue engageable with the said projection of the adjacent conducting-piece; two flat springs of less tension than the first-named springs fastened at their upper ends tothe top binding-posts and whose free ends are normally out of contact with said conductingpieces but are capable of moving into contactv therewith respectively; a wire from each top bind ing-post to the corresponding rearwardlyextending bottom binding-post; the wires of an electric main circuit secured to the forwardly-exteiuling bottom binding-posts respectively; the wires of an electric-lighting circuit secured to said central binding-posts respectively; a roller rotatably mounted on said base and having on one side a longitudinal rib and also having on the opposite side two rearwardly-extending screws which by the rotation of the roller are capable of depressing the upper springs into contact with said conductingpieces; and a conductingplate on said rib of the roller which by the rotation of the roller is brought into contact with the free upper ends of the first-named springs, said base and roller being themselves non-conductors of electricity, substantially as specified.

et. in an electric cut-out switch, the combination of the wires of an electric main circuit, two dat springs connected with the ends of said wires respectively; two flat springs of less tension than the lirst-named springs, connected by wires to the wires of the main circuit; the wires of an electric-lighting circuit; two conducting-pieces connected with the ends of the wires of said lighting-circuit respectively; a rotatable roller made ofa non-conductor of electricity and having on one side two outwardly-projecting screws in alinement with the second-named springs and on the opposite side a longitudinal rib with a conductingplate adapted to contact with the free ends of said first-named springs during a portion of the rotation of said roller, said parts being so arranged that when the conducting-plate of the roller forces the free ends of the lirstnamed springs outwardly and remains in contact therewith in such outward position the free ends of the second-named springs move by their own resilience out of contact with the two comlucting-pieces iirst named but when the conducting-plate of the roller is out of contact withjthe first-named springs the free ends of the second-named springs are forced by the outer ends of said screws into contact with the first-named conducting-pieces, substantially as described.'

In an electric cut-out switch, the combination of the wires of an electric main circuit, two fiat springs f fastened at their upper ends to proper supports and there connected with the ends of said wires respectively; the wires of an electric-lighting circuit; two conductingpieces connected with the wires of the lighting-circuit respectively; a rotatable roller which is a non-conductor of electricity and has a conducting-plate contacting with the free ends of said springs during some portion of the rotation of said roller; and means operated by said roller and adapted to complete an electric circuit between said main wires and said lighting-wires when the conducting-plate of the roller is out of contact with said springs but also adapted to break the electric circuit between said main wires and said lightingwires when the conducting-plate of the roller is in contact with said springs, substantially as specified.

6. In an electric cut-out switch, the combination of the wires of an electric main circuit, two conducting-pieces connected with the wires of an electric-lighting circuit respectively; two l'lat springs fastened at their upper ends to proper supports and there connected with the wires of the main circuit respectively; a rotatable roller which is not a conductor of electricity and is provided with cam-surfaces in alinement with said springs respectively; and means operated by said roller and adapted to complete an electric circuit between the main wires and the lighting-wires when said earn-surfaces press the free ends of 4said springs into contact with said conducting-pieces but also adapted to break said lastnamed electric circuit when the resilience of said springs causes the free ends thereof to separate from the conducting-pieces as said cam-surfaces move away from said springs, substantially as specified.

7. In an electric cut-out switch, the combination of a rotatable roller, two plugs mounted in said roller and each having a screwthreaded longitudinal socket; a screw engaging each of said plugs in the socket thereof; the wires of an electric main circuit; the wires of a lighting-circuit; two flat springs properly mounted and connected with said main wires, which springs normally are out of connection with said lighting-circuit but are movable by said screws into such connection by the rotation of the roller, substantially as described.

8. In an electric cut-out switch, the combi- IIO nation of a rotatable roller having two adjust-V ably-mounted cams on its periphery; the wires of an electric main circuit; the wires of an electric-lighting circuit; two flat springs properly mounted and connected with the main wires, which springs normally are out of connection with said lighting-circuit but are movable by said cams into such connection by the rotation of the roller, substantially as specied. i 9. In an electric cut-out switch, the combination oi a rotatable roller made of material which is a non-conductor of electricity and provided with two plugs radially inserted therein, each of which has a screw-threaded longitudinal socket; a conducting-plate fastened to the roller by screws which engage with said plugs; the wires of an electric main circuit; the wires of an electric-lighting circuit; and means for normally uniting said two circuits, said plate operating on revolution of the roller to break the connection between the said circuits and at the same time close the main circuit, substantially as specilied.

10. In an electric cut-out switch, the combination of the wires of an electric main circuit, the wires of an electric-lighting circuit; two

conducting-pieces each connected to one of said lighting-wires and each having two forwardly-extending projections; two fiat springs mounted at their lower ends on proper supports and there connected with said main wires, an integral tongue at the free end of each of said Vsprings normally engaged between the said two projections of the adjacent conducting-piece; two flat springs of less tension than the first-named springs mounted at their upper ends on a proper support and there connected with said main wires; the free ends of which springs are normally out of contact with said conducting-pieces; and means adapted to press the free ends of said last-named springs into contact with said conducting-pieces and at the same time to withdraw the free ends of the first-named springs and their tongues out of contact with said conducting-pieces, substantially as specied.

In testimony whereofIaiHx my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH FRECHETTE.

Witnesses:

OLIN HILL, ALBERT W. BROWN. 

